EXPOSED: Bryan Keplesky, Art Director of Door Number 3

Attention, all young socialite Austinites who are potentially biased against hipsters! Kindly put away your conventional notions of “hipsters” as apathetic hedonists and party-frequenting ne’er-do-wells. Bryan Keplesky is everything and nothing you have come to expect from our city’s dynamic scene. Not only did he cofound the acerbic, anarchic Misprint magazine, Austin’s vicious valentine to itself, but he’s also one of our city’s most sought-after graphic designers, lending his talents to the Bird’s Barbershop epic screen-printed mural as well as to concert posters that capture the cozy rebelliousness of Austin’s diverse band dossier. His adventurous expression isn’t relegated exclusively to his free time either; from nine to five he’s an art director responsible for the daily genius of Door Number 3, one of Austin’s premier creative firms. Having never really possessed the desire to be in a band, Keplesky instead focuses on the aesthetic surrounding the music. “I’d rather promote them with posters and make fun of them with zines,” he asserts, completely at peace with his position in the deceptively complicated dog-eat-dog world of Austin’s musical community. “Austin has a lot going for it in terms of inspiring creativity, and it doesn’t start or stop with its live music.”

Who are your biggest influences?
Robert Rauschenberg, not only aesthetically but because he’s utilized every medium imaginable, believes in collaboration, and embraces technology. Also the Led Zeppelin 1973 World Tour.

What’s your favorite place in town to see a show?
The courtyard at Emo’s, because it’s a good place to catch up with people. When two totally different genres of music are playing inside and out, the courtyard becomes a melting pot of hilarious Austin subcultures.

What piece of art would you most like to own?
Pretty much anything by Robert Rauschenberg. I’d also love Excavation by Willem de Kooning or Damien Hirst’s giant shark.

At age seven, you wanted to be?
A writer. Mainly because of Dear Mr. Henshaw. Beverly Cleary would probably dig Misprint.

What is your favorite album cover art?
Magical Mystery Tour by the Beatles. Those dudes could do whatever they wanted, and they knew it. Plus there’s all kinds of cool “Paul is dead” subliminal messaging. The only downside is that it paved the way for a million lame photo shoots of bands in animal costumes.

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
In terms of overall happiness, I’d say the Wrens back in 2004. It was my favorite band at the time and the first show I did a gig poster for.

What’s your favorite musical memory?
SXSW 2005. It was my first one and was the inspiration for the wonderful, jaded world of Misprint magazine. Now that I think of it, that was a huge failure on the music industry’s part.

If you weren’t in your current career, what would you be?
An archaeologist. Not a paleontologist, although dinosaurs rule, but I’d rather be excavating structures in Central America or checking out pictographs in South Africa.

Who’s your favorite fictional character?
Robin Hood. But it has to be the Robin Hood swagger interpreted by Errol Flynn, not that guy with gills.

What was the first album you ever bought?
The first one given to me was Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The first thing I bought was probably something by P. M. Dawn, which is much better.